An important question for the anime , specifically Noragami . To answer why Noragami didn't return with a third season, we first have to go back in time and do a more in-depth study of the work.
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Despite its success, a third season has yet to be confirmed after more than eight years. Let's explore what "Noragami" covered in its first two seasons and the likelihood of this series continuing someday.
To begin with, the beloved supernatural anime "Noragami" had its first twelve-episode season released in 2014, immediately followed by a second thirteen-episode season in 2015, produced by Studio Bones .
"Noragami" follows high school student Hiyori Iki , who nearly dies trying to save a stranger from an oncoming bus. The accident transforms her into a sort of half-ghost, where her soul occasionally escapes her physical body and her spiritual form possesses a tail that acts as a life preserver. Trapped between the living and the dead, she discovers the Near Frontier, home to the living, and the Far Frontier, inhabited by spirits and demons. Frightened and confused by her paranormal state, Hiyori is visited by the boy she tried to save, who reveals himself to be Yato , a God of Calamity and Depression who can cure her condition.
Yato is considered an obscure god, long forgotten by humans. He aspires to become a famous and widely worshipped god, with numerous shrines and abundant riches. However, humans do not want to associate with a dark and sinister god, known for single-handedly destroying entire armies.
Yato's reputation and troublesome behavior earn him many enemies, especially Bishamon, who blames him for annihilating all of her Regalia long ago. When Yato needs a new Regalia, he makes a pact with the soul of a troublesome but talented young man named Yukine.
Together, Yato, Hiyori, and Yukine form the main trio of "Noragami" and work together to achieve common goals, supporting each other. When Yato becomes frustrated by not having a shrine, Hiyori builds a miniature one for him, and he cries tears of joy. Shortly after, Yato is exploited and blackmailed by his former Nora and her tainted Regalia, forcing him to abandon Hiyori and Yukine for an extended period.
The two seasons of "Noragami" were well-received and won over a legion of fans passionate about its supernatural adventures and romantic elements. The original manga, recently concluded, goes far beyond the content currently covered by the anime, offering Studio Bones a large amount of material to adapt.
Why has the Noragami anime never returned?
However, the original material faced unexpected delays due to health complications of one of its two authors. Furthermore, the manga was suspended several times, the longest period being a two-year hiatus between 2017 and 2019, until its conclusion in January 2024.
Unfortunately, there was a drop in sales, going from four volumes per year to just one . Therefore, “Noragami” also experienced a significant 60% drop in physical disc sales for the second season compared to the first . This underperformance may have convinced Studio Bones that the series would not be as profitable as expected.
Finally, despite the anime's continued growth in popularity through streaming services, a third season of "Noragami" is still out of reach. While anything is possible in the world of anime and the series may have its long-awaited continuation in the future, Noragami fans will have to make do with the original manga if they want more of the story in the near future.
Also, comment below if you think the show deserves a third season.